Folding table



Nov. 17, 1959 LC. MAXWELL ETAL 2,913,155

FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 24. 1953 18 Sheets-Sheet 1 EC. 1 ZNVENTORS [RA C. MAXWELL OLE H. LANG'EN DAN R LEHAL A TTORNEYS Nov. 17, 1959 I. c. MAXWELL ETAI.

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FOLDING TABLE Filed Doc. 24. 19s: 18 Sheets-She et 4 INVENTORS IRA C. MAXWELL OLE H LANGEN DAN R pLEHAL 3a BY A ORNEYS Nov. 17, 1959 c, MAXWELL ETAL 2,913,155

FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 24. 1953 l8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 16

[Nl/ENTORS [RA C. MAXWELL OLE H. LANGEN DAN F2 PLEHAL avmmd ATTORNEYS Filed D80. 24. 1953 Nov. 17, 1959 l. c. MAXWELL ETAL 2,913,155

- FOLDING TABLE 18 Sheets-Sheet 6 CONTROLS COLLAR FORM NTRO S CONTROLS r 1. M R3 [NVENTORS [RA 0. MAXWELL OLE H. LANGEN DAN R PLEHAL Nov. 17, 1959 l. c. MAXWELL EI'AL 2,913,155

FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 24. 1953 1a Sheets-Sheet 7 ZNVENTORS [RA 6'. MAXWELL OLE H. LANGEN DAN F2 PLEHAL A 'r TORNE Y3 1959 l. c. MAXWELL ET AL 2,

FOLDING TABLE 18 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 24. 1953 s N m 4 2% M W E m G x 7 m H m wmm fl m 1% HQ M up J7 11 M w AMM Nov. 17, 1959 l. C(MAXWELL ET AL FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 24. 1953 18 Sheets-Sheet l1 [NI/ENTORS [RA C MAXWELL OLE f7. LANGEN DAN R PLEHAL M A 7- TOR/V5 s Nov. 17, 1959 LC. MAXWELL ETAL FOLDING TABLE 18 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Dec. 24. 1953 L s 22 W. mg m X M M w m N R A JOH W m 1959 l. c. MAXWELL ETAL 2,

FOLDING TABLE 18 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Dec. 24. 1953 L L n M av [CH M A m u m% 00 M/ W 1959 l. c. MAXWELL ETA]. 2,913,155

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' FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 24. 1953 18 Sheets-Sheet 16 I HG, 25A

INVENTORS [RA C. MAXWELL OLE hf LANGEN DAN P. P4. EHAL Arron/Vans 1959 l. c. MAXWELL ETAL 2,

FOLDING TABLE 18 Sheets-Sheet 17 Filed Dec. 24. 1955 QM t [RA C. MAXWELL OLE H LANCE/V DAN I? PLEHAL BY ATfOR/VEYJ 50 Q2( 2. mm nmim to 31$. wu oz n 6. :6

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FOLDING TABLE "Filed Dec. 24. 1953 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 90 Sk'E BS I S DRIVE 3/30 I GEAR UNIT 92 97 320 L I E/ f i 1 3/3c\: 2 2 MOTOR f 99 3/7 MICROSWITCH .1 EMERGENCY I STOP azz. 2 I

I l/-5/-9 ,3/6 32/ l l I :07 START 3/1] 3/12 HEATER FOR COLLAR i2 ISLAND MOLD \7 J0! LIGHTS UNDER /306 TABLE 304 L 304 1 PUSH FOR OFF f/Vl/E/VTORS [RA C. MAXWELL OLE f1 LA/VGEN DAN R PLEHAL TM M A 7- TORNE Y5 United States Patent 2,913,155 FOLDING TABLE Ira C. Maxwell and Ole H. Langen, Minneapolis, and Dan R. Plehal, Robbinsdale, Minm, assignor's' to The Unipre'ss Company, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota I Application December 24, 1953, Serial No. 400,258

52 Claims; (Cl; 22337) This invention relates to new and'us'eful improvements in a folding table for automatically folding garments such as shirts and the like into neat packages.

This invention more specifically relates to improvements in automatic shirt folding tables of the type disclosed in a co-pending application of Alan A. Reid, Ser. No. 267,372, filed January 21, 1952, now Patent Number 2,737,765, issued March 13, 1956. I

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and useful means for automatically providing longitudinal and transverse folds in a shirt by mechanical means and in proper sequence.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic shirt folding table wherein the shirt is positioned face downwardly thereon and wherein improved means is provided for successively folding the tail o-f'the shirt upwardly, the sides of the shirt inwardly, for positioning a retaining band therearound and for then ejecting the shirt from the table.

Another object of this invention resides in an automatie shirt folding table of simplicity, constructed for folding a shirt into a net rectangular package without bulges or wrinkles and for positioning a retaining band therea-round;

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and useful shirt folding table upon which a shirt is adapted to be positioned face downwardly having means .for retaining said shirt in face downward position and automatic and mechanical sequence means for folding the tail of the shirt upwardly, the sides of the shirt inwardly, and for ejecting the shirt from the table after the folding operations are completed. 7

It is another object of this invention to pro 'de a new and useful automatic shirt folding table having uniqueretaining members for retaining the shirt in position on the table and new and improved mechanism for operating the same. I

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a cam operated mechanical shirt folding table havin positive control of all shirt folding parts.

Still a further object of this invention resides in the use of a plurality of expandable and contractible retaining means for retaining the shirt in position on the table and in the novel means for expanding and contracting the same. I

Still other objects of the invention reside in the construction of the retaining arrns, tail folding mechanism, the hold-down mechanism, side folding mechanism, band folding and sealing mechanism, and in the new and use fnl mechanism connecting the same.

Other objects of the invention are those inherent and apparent in the apparatus as described, pictured and claimed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various 2,913,155 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 2 ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. v g

This invention will be described with'referenceto the drawings, forming part of this application, in which corresponding numerals refer to the'same'parts and in which: I p p Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the instant invention shown from the left sideg Figure 2 is a topplanview showing the apparatus of the invention in the starting or initial position; I f

Figure 3 is a left side elevation similar to" Figured; but showing the housing removed;

Figure 4 is a fragmentaryelevation, p artlysection, showing thatportion of theappal'atus that grip's'lthe collar during the folding "operation, together with the mechanism for operating-the same. This portion of the apparatus is usually called the collar form. In this and certain other figures" of the drawings, a particular work element (here the collar form)- is shown with its operating linkages, separated from the remainder of the apparatus. This is done for cl'arity in the drawings and to facilitate the explanation? I Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the'collar form of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary isometric schematic 'view of the shirt retainer drums-Nos. R1, R3 and R5; show-n separate from the remainder of the apparatus, ofthe instant invention; It may be noted, parenthe'ticall'y, that there are five suchshirfthandling members or shirtretainers operating in timed relation inconjunction with divers other mechanisms. See also Figures? and 9;-- I

Figure 7 is a'vertical sectional view of the mechanism for operating the spools" of N'os. R1, R3 and R5. -The operating mechanisms for the 'spools of shirt retainers Nos. R1, R3and' R5 are similar to the spools of-tho'se for shirt retainers Nos; R2 and R4. The sectional view of Figure 7 is taken along the line and in thedirection of the arrows 7--7 of Figure 9; I 1

Figure 8 is a vertical" section showing the operating mechanism for the spools of shirt retainers Nos. RZ and R4. See also Figures 11 and 11 A;- 4

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of them'echanism of Figure 7' which operates the spools of shirt retainer'sNosL R1, R3 and R5;v l 1 Figure 10 is a top plan view of the cam mechanism of the apparatus of theinstantfinvention shown separated from the remaining parts" of the device; The cam- No's. R2 and R4. See also Figures 11A, 27 and 28; v

Figure 11A is a schematic isometric, rear, view of the" operating mechanism for the spools of retainers R2 and R3. I

Figure 12 is an isometric schematic view of shirt retainer drums Nos. R2 and R4 and the mechanical elements for elevating and depressing the same;

Figure 13 is an end elevation of a drum plate, which is a part of each shirt retainer, Nos. R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5; I

Figure 14 is a substantially vertical sectional view' of the drum plate taken along the line and in the directionof the arrows 14-14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a side elevation of one of the spools of the retainers of the instant invention;

Figure 16 is a. view of the spool taken along the line and in' the direction of the arrows 16-16 of Figure 15';

Figures 17 and 18 are related views;

Figure 17 is a side elevational View of the tail folding mechanism and hold clamps with the tail folder in operative position and the hold clamps ready to commence operation. In this view, these elements are shown separated from the remainder of the apparatus;

. Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17 but showing the tail folder slightly retracted and the hold clamps in intermediate position preparatory to engaging a shirt;

Figures 19,20,21 and 22. In each of these views, each of the cams at the lower part of the figures are separated for better illustration, it being understood that in the actual device the cams are located side-by-side on the shaft 94;

Figure 19 is a vertical sectional schematic view showing the side folders and the flexible strip folders and fastener in rest position and mechanism for operating the same;

, Figure 20 is a View similar to Figure 19 but showing the right side folder in folding position;

Figure 21 is a view similar to Figures 19 and 20 but shows the right side folder retracted and the left side folder in operating position, together with the flexible band folder mechanism operated to fold the left side of the band into engagement with the shirt and showing the right strip folder and sealer in position ready to begin its cooperative folding movement;

Figure 22 is a view similar to Figures 19-21 but shows the flexible band folders and sealer both in engaged position; a Figure 23 is a schematic elevational view of the cams separated and set side-byside. The cams operate the folding mechanism. In this view the shaft 94 is shown in section and the cams and followers are shown in the positions they assume at the beginning of the cycle corresponding to the positions of the various elements in Figures 1 and 10; 7

Figures 24-26 are a series of related views showing the construction of one of the drums of shirt retainers Nos. Rl-RS. These shirt retainer drums are all constructed alike and consist of a housing into and out of which a flexible tape which engages the shirt is adapted to be projected. The drummechanism is rotatable arcuately as a whole to move the tapes (which are projected therefrom) into shirt engaging and shirt disengaging position.

The illustrations in Figures 24-27 should be considered along with Figures 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14, which are related;

Figure 24 is a top plan view of one of the shirt retainer drums, (which is representative of any of the shirt retainers Nos. Rl-RS);

Figure 25 is a side elevation partly broken away of the shirt retainer drum of Figure 25;

Figure 25A is fragmentary detailed sections at lines 25-25 of Figure 25;

Figure 26 is a side elevation of the shirt retainer drum of Figure 25, but shown from the opposite side; r Figure 27 is a fragmentary front elev-ational view of the means for rotating the spools which are housed within the shirt retainer drum, and which in this instance may be shirt retainers Nos. R2 and R4, the operating mechanisms for shirt retainers Nos. R1, R3 and R5 being similar. v Figure 28 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 27. t

Figure 29 is a developed plan view of an exemplary form of cam sequence of the present invention for controlling the various folding mechanisms. 7

Figure 30 is a straight line wiring diagram of the electrical circuits and controls of the apparatus of the present invention.

"Corresponding numerals refer to the same parts throughout the drawings and description.

1 The over-all plan of operation of the apparatus of the present invention assumes thata previously fully ironed shirt is available and ready to be folded. In the modern high-production laundry, the shirts are ironed by a crew of two or three (usually women) operators who complete 4 the ironing of the shirt, utilizing a multiple unit battery of presses, which may, for example, include a one-lay sleeve press, collar and cuff press, yoke press, bosom press, or such other combination of presses as may be available. There is little or no hand finishing. The fully ironed shirt is then hung on a form and the collar and shirt front are buttoned. The cuffs of negligee shirts are usually left flat (unbuttoned), as are the cuffs of French cuff shirts. The operator then folds the -shirt, and it is to this operation that the present invention is addressed.

With reference to the drawings forming a part of this application, the shirt folding table generally designated 10 comprises a bottom casting 11 and a top casting 12 (Figure 3) situated thereon and connected thereto. Bottom casting 11 is provided with a peripheral skirt 13 and feet 14 by which it can be set level. The entire mechanism is enclosed in a housing 15 having a removable back plate 16 as shown best in Figure 1, and a folding'table surface 18 is provided as shown best in Figure 2.

As is shown best in Figure 2, the folding table surface 18 is provided with a depression 19 having corner tabs 20 and in which a stack of flexible paper shirt retaining bands are placed. These paper bands are of the selfadhering type, consisting of paper having a tacky coattween the coating and another uncoated paper surface;

hence they can be stacked, but when the two coated surfaces are brought together adherence will occur, to lock the two ends together to form a band. The recess 19 is low enough so the bands are out of the way, but conveniently located; Also positioned on folding table 10 are five extending retaining members designated R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5. Positioned at the center of the table surface 18 is a collar form assembly generally designated 21 provided upon a depressed platform 22 and positioned between cooperating arcuately movable hold-down clamps 23 and 24. These clamps 23 and 24 (which are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3) are arcuately up and down about the axes 23A and 24A, through the operation of a foot treadle controlled by the operator, as will be described; A pair of upwardly extending clips 25 are positioned between clamps 23 and'24 and form 21 and serve to position the conventional shirt, stiffening cardboard during the folding operation. These clips are springy enough to resiliently engage and hold the cardboard during the forming and folding of the collar.

Positioned between the collar form 21 and the front of the folding table is a right band folder 26 and a left band folder 27. Positioned adjacent the right and left hand folders 26 and 2 7 are right and left side folders 28 and 29. The self-adhering paper shirt bands are placed, one for each shirt along the center line P-P, and brought up around the folded shirt as a final operation, by folders 26 and 27.

Positioned at the forward edge of the table is a tail folder 30 which operates in elongated apertures 31 as later explained.

The initial or rest position of the shirt folder is as follows: Retainers R1R5 are in an elevated position of about 60 above table surface 18; shown for retainer R1 in Figure 3'. The hold-down clamps 23 and 24 are likewise in the position of Figure 3, as is the tail folder 30. The side folders 28 and 29 and band folders 26 and 27 are in the position of Figure 2, that is, flush with the table. The collar form 21 is in expanded position. The steel bands of the retainers R1, R3 and R5 are extended and those for R2 and R4 retracted.

A shirt is then placed face downwardly upon the shirt folding table, with reference to Figure 2, with the collar buttoned and the collar positioned around form 21. Form 21 comprises cooperating collar surfaces which, taken together form a band or island 21, the edges of which areperpendieular to depression 22. The sides of this 

